The trees lining Tomball’s Main Street are set to be replaced with new trees after Tomball City Council approved a $1.5 million contract with Environmental Designs Inc. at its April 20 meeting. The tree removal and replacement are related to the FM 2920 reconstruction project, which will start in January 2029, Public Works Director Drew Huffman said.

The gist: Huffman said the trees will be the last part of the construction along Main Street and are expected to be planted in 2031.

By the numbers: There will be 200 trees total, planted along FM 2920 from Willow Street to Hwy. 249 where applicable, Huffman said. Sixty trees will be grown to 10-to-12-inch caliper for downtown Tomball, which Huffman said are bigger than the current average 9-inch caliper trees lining Main Street. 

Some context: Spearheaded by TxDOT, the FM 2920 reconstruction project—spanning from Business 249 to Willow Street—was first identified as a need through the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s access management study from 2007-08 and Livable Centers Study in 2009, Community Impact previously reported.

Peace Love Autism is opening its new retail store in Tomball with a grand opening event April 25, according to a new release.

The details: The retail store is dedicated to supporting and celebrating the autism community, per the news release. The space will host events such as sensory-friendly experiences and community events and collaborations.

What else: During the April 25 grand opening event, which will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., attendees can expect live music, local vendors and opportunities to connect with organizations that support individuals with autism and disabilities, per the news release.

• 502 Mason St., Tomball

Catfish and rainbow trout are now making their way to several community lakes in the Greater Houston area and across the state.

How it works: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is stocking 18 lakes in nine cities around Texas, including Austin, Houston and Bryan-College Station.

The Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes program is aimed at encouraging family fishing at 18 locations around the state that provide parking and are close to neighborhoods.

Quote of note: “Catfish are fun and easy to catch for anglers of all ages and experience levels. If you’ve never fished before, these are the perfect places to get started,” said Marcos DeJesus, East Texas regional director for TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, in a news release. “If you are an experienced angler, these are the perfect places to introduce fishing to a friend or family member.”

According to the April 15 Houston Association of Realtors’ March Rental Market Update, Houston's rental market has seen an increase in leased listings.

The details: For March, HAR reports there were 4,718 leased listings for single-family rentals on the market, a 15.8% increase compared to last March. For pending listings, there was an increase of 7.8% compared to last year, totaling 6,172 homes on the market. Lease prices in comparison to last March dipped by 2.1% to $2,242 from $2,290. Homes have also spent slightly longer in the market, from 43 to 47 days.

What else: According to HAR, the townhome and condominium market has also seen changes in March; 673 properties were leased this March, leading to a 12.4% increase compared to the 599 properties last March.

Alongside the rental market, the number of new listings for townhomes and condominiums has grown by 10.1% to 1,082 properties; last March’s listing amount was 983 properties. Meanwhile, the number of days on market has grown to 61 days this March from 53 days last March.

Demand on the Texas power grid could more than quadruple in the next six years, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced April 15.

The details: The state grid operator projected that peak electric demand could hit 367,790 megawatts by 2032—more than four times the current demand record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. Much of this forecasted growth is due to data centers, according to ERCOT documents.

However, ERCOT leaders warned that the growth forecast is “preliminary” and needs adjustments.

What's happening: During an April 17 meeting, ERCOT officials told the Public Utility Commission of Texas that they plan to work with utility providers to issue a revised forecast in the coming weeks.

“I think it's clear we need to engage in the process and look at ways to refine this number to something that's more usable,” PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson said.

Stay tuned: ERCOT said it expects peak electric demand on the grid this summer will hit between 90,500-98,000 megawatts, which would shatter the current demand record.